Contents

IF-Related Events

Storytelling in the world of interactive fiction

(Friday, March 26th, 5:30pm-6:30pm, Wyvern Theatre)

Text adventures have been quietly experimenting with narrative gaming for thirty years. Five authors from the amateur interactive fiction community discuss the design ideas in their games -- reordered storylines, unreliable narrators, deeply responsive NPCs -- and how they apply to other kinds of games. (Rob Wheeler (mod.), Robb Sherwin, Aaron Reed, Emily Short, Andrew Plotkin)

The current plan as approved by the PAX organizers is the showing of the main GET LAMP episode at 9:30, followed by a panel on stage of people interviewed for the film, and then some showings of a few more features of the DVD after that, including the Infocom and Bedquilt episodes.

The IF Suite

I (zarf) have reserved a large suite on the top floor of the Back Bay Hilton. (Room number TBA.) We have the room from Thursday afternoon until Monday morning, although I currently plan to clear out on Sunday evening.

The plan is to have the door open through Friday, Saturday, and some of Sunday. It will be both a rendezvous/hangout point for mudders and IF community folks, and a publicity center for newcomers interested in IF.

(Scheduling details should probably wait until we have a PAX event schedule. Hopefully that won't be *too* late in February...)

Plans

Chips, soda, M&Ms in mass quantities (Kevin Jackson-Mead)

Computers to demo games and IF development (Jason Scott)

A Speed-IF at some point in the weekend (will definitely happen; Saturday would be best, but it depends on the PAX schedule) (organizer?)

People willing to help be room-watchers: (add your name)

Andrew Plotkin

Robb Sherwin

Ideas Still In Progress

Cheese? Sushi? (Coolers to put them in?)

(note that the room comes with an HDTV which *probably* allows laptop input)

Maybe some scheduled discussions beyond the official PAX panel

Fliers: we should have a stack of fliers describing the suite and all PAX IF events, official and unofficial. Leave on free-flier tables in the convention center.

Badge ribbons for all of us ("Grue lover"? "Ask me about Interactive Fiction"? "Lost in a maze of twisty little passages"? "Interactive Fiction is Real"?)

Badge stickers for anyone who drops by the suite (may be same as ribbons)

An intriguing (though inexpensive) modern-day "feelie" for visitors to take away

"Starter" CD with some interpreter software and a few appropriate beginner games

A barebones "How To Get Started in IF" handout, defining some basic terms and giving relevant links (along with searchable phrases) to both more expansive instructions and most useful game/review sites

Re the feelie idea: I looked at geocoin sites -- thinking about a fancy zorkmid coin -- there are some great products available but they're expensive, $2 to $4 each. I'd want to have at least 200 for the weekend, so under a buck would be preferable. Wooden coins? Acrylic? --Z